Volunteering is one of those quirky little things that we all know we should probably do more often, but rarely actually take the effort to do it. However, it's not nearly as hard as you think, and if you take the time to find the right place, it's an experience that can teach you plenty of valuable skills.

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Volunteering has quite a few intangible benefits, including research that suggests it makes you feel like you have more time, and live longer. But it's also a dead simple way to learn a new skill, or hone the skills you already have. The trick is to find a place you actually like.

Decide What You Want to Learn or Teach

Volunteering is great in an altruistic sense, but that doesn't mean you can't get something out of it. To that end, it's good to start by thinking about what you'd like to learn or teach. For instance, we've talked before about how volunteering is a good way to boost DIY knowledge, especially with household repair for a place like Habitat for Humanity. Hackerspaces are also great if you're interested in electronics. Of course, if you already have those skills, you can teach as well. Chances are, if you're trying to learn a skill, or if you're really good at something, a volunteer option exists (we'll get into finding those options in the next section).

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I've volunteered for a few different places myself, but it wasn't until a short stint of teaching basic journal writing skills at a low income community center that it really settled in that this was something I enjoyed. The volunteering itself was dead simple. Once a month on a Saturday, I'd get together with a group of people, they'd go over their month, write it out, then share it. It was usually less than two hours of "work," but it was surprisingly fun.

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So, take some time to think about what it is you want to do. Try and think outside the box a little. Maybe you're in the market for a new puppy and want to volunteer at a dog shelter to learn more about training, or you're handy with a wrench and can help people in your community with plumbing. It might even be as simple as volunteering to pass out water at a 5K, or help organize at a library book sale. Photo by Children's Organization of Southeast Asia.

Find a Position that Works for You

It's important to remember that if you're interested in volunteering, it's not always about doing it on a regular basis. What you're looking for might be a weekend, or even just a day.

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By now, you should have a pretty good idea what you're interested in volunteering for. The next step is to start digging around your community for something to do. An easy place to start is your local community center. Craigslist's Volunteer section (under Community) is also a good place to look. If you already know of a non-profit center or event you want to volunteer at, you can call them directly and ask for a volunteer coordinator for more information.

If you're not entirely sure what you're looking for, VolunteerMatch or Idealist are good places to start. You can search both sites using keywords just like you would a job listing. If you're incredibly busy, Sparked allows you to find volunteer oppurtunities you can do online, and most of the tasks take less than a few minutes.

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Once you actually find something you're interested in, ask for a tour (if possible), talk about the position, and get as many details as possible. If it doesn't sound like a good fit, don't do it. Don't feel bad about walking away from something you're not confident will work out.

It takes a little digging to find a good fit for some skills, but you'll eventually find something. If you can't it's always worth approaching a non profit or community center with an idea for something new as well. The end result is an opportunity to learn something you'd otherwise have to pay for, and you get to help out with a cause you care about. Photo by vastateparkstaff.